I lost a good friend back in the 70s during the opening day of trout season. Spring thaw caused a lot of run off and he got caught in a current, went under, his waders filled up and that was the end. After that I went to more expensive, light material stocking foot waders with shoes I can get off easily. When I had the space I also had one of those contraptions that allowed you to float in a rig attached to a truck tire tube.

My Fishing vest now is an inflatable seaplane vest with lots of pockets. He works great as a fly fishing vest while being able to immediately inflate with heads up positioning.

Bob

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Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.

I too carry a Bulldog in the woods. Ok for most blackbears and less around here and it carries real easy.

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“Look life in its iron face”

Sorry for the loss of your fishing friend.
I am a rookie, but found out fast to respect the power of fast moving water.

Id go Glock 20 in a Kenai chest rig, with 180gr Underwood hardcast ammo. Glocks, love them or hate them, are pretty impervious to the elements, and you are in the water.

[QUOTE=waffles;140989126]Quoting myself since I found a pic, but I have a blue one now and it's rad.

Outstanding creek bushwhackin' rig. That'll work for me at Lee's Ferry, too! Thanks for sharing. - T.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

For the soon to open early January catch & release season I have decided to stick with what I have.
I ordered a custom Gunfighters chest rig to accommodate the threaded barrel of my HK VP9
I also ordered some Buffalo Bore 9mm +P Outdoorsman 147 gr. HC
Going to get some good bear spray to clip on my belt.
If I take on water I will just give the HK a good cleaning.
I may decide on a larger semi or wheel gun down the road. This gets me started with a spare gun I have.
With any luck my amicable relationship with my woodland pals remains.

I carry a Glock 40 (10 mm) or Smith 629 when hiking heavy bear areas, like eastern North Carolina by Alligator River. Glock 40 in Kenai chest holster or Hill People Gear chest pack. The 629 does not fit in the HPG rig...stays in the Kenai. Both can survive a little water

Regarding the Hill People Gear chest rig...I've completely fallen into streams, totally submerged, or a few seconds and the contents stayed dry. It's not technically waterproof but close for short exposure.

For black bears a minimum of .357 with 180gr. hard cast, for wolves and lions the .357 will do just fine.

I would recommend a 2.5" or 4" 686+. ...7 chances, stainless, 357 mag, not too bulky or heavy for a chest rig or hip rig and mostly water resistant to a point, and so very accurate. Will also tame those buffalo bore outdoorsman loads or similar, which will punch right through black bears, wolves and cats, and backwoods weirdos!

Any 4 inch 357 mag , I would want more than a 22 where you go .

Ok, I'll admit that when I read the title of this thread "Revolver for Trout Fishing", the first thing that went through my head was: Don't bother with a revolver for trout fishing; use a quarter-stick of dynamite instead!

Brings back a long forgotten memory of backpacking with a pair of twins. One had hiked upstream and the other wasn’t able to convince a nice 20” brown to take his fly,so he took out his brand new single six and plunked it! His brother came back down stream and read him the riot act

About the only critter trouble we run into fishing down here is Water Moccasins not often, and Wasps. A .22 works fine on the snakes, for the wasps, run or dive and swim!
Steve W

Why don't you step up now, you can't predict when you will see bears.

I'm thinking a revolver for trout fishing would need a pretty long barrel to cast that line any usable distance.

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protocalldesign.com

I use an L.L.Bean fly rod for all my fishing needsother than that whatever is my EDC

If you ever encounter a brown bear with cubs you will wish you had MOD 29 4" no matter how much it inconveniences you.

I have been there and done that!

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V/r,
Markham

Btdt and I was thinking this is nowhere near enough gun

Charter Arms Bulldog or Target Bulldog with the Skeeter loads using either Keith bullets or the Thompson 255g GC cast hard . Light and powerful and the Target version gives 4" and good sights for maximum power and accuracy .

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

I’ve only ran into one bear while fishing. Only Blacks on east. I was fishing small stream in Northern Michigan, about 10’ wide. Came around bend and bear was on outside of bend rooting around some washed up wood. I eased back down the stream and waited about 1/2 before I continued. Bear was gone but every critter that took off in the brush beside stream made me jump. I had 22 pistol but didnt feel the need to shoot the bear.

Yep, when I saw the image I thought, "Dude's got a boat on his back!"

To the OPs question: How about an SW Model 60-9 or 10 (.357 capable) or a 3" Model 640 in .357?

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

I'd carry my six-inch 686 with rubber grips. I'd load a handload of 158 or 180 grain hardcast going max published data.

Ruger LCRx in .357 loaded with 158 gr. Lead SWC or same bullet in .38/.38 +P.
1 7/8” or 3”.

Lightweight as about as rust-resistant as they come.
If you get it wet just blow it out with compressed air when you get home, and spray a little thin oil (not WD-40) inside.
Don’t forget to carry some extra ammo in something waterproof like doubled zip-loc bags or something better.

There was an article in our local paper about a man who was arrested for shooting carp from his boat within the city limits of a small town near here . I was on a squad with the chief of police from that town so I asked him when the carp firearm season was in his town.

I don’t recall his answer.

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I like Ike.

I carry my 6" 586 with rubber grips, it rides in a Guide's Choice chest holster. The 6" barrel can be a bit inconvenient at times however.

I went on a week long Alaskan fishing trip a number of years ago. We were surrounded daily by Kodiak brown bears the size of Angus cattle. The outfitter employed a number of guides and strictly forbade carrying firearms or bear spray. The outfitter had 50+ yrs experience around bears, brown and polar, and must have known what he was doing. No guides or clients had been chewed on. The guides were careful where they led us. He thought handguns were a waste of time. .375 H&H was his minimum caliber for bear. S spray has been found to be extremely hazardous in vehicles, especially bush planes.

If I were to consider carrying a handgun for wade fishing it would be small and light, sufficient for two legged attackers, lest it drown me after a fall, a more likely event for clumsy me than a bear scuffle.

As someone who trout fished in Wyoming for many years I carried a Ruger Redhawk 5.5" .44 Magnum loaded with Randy Garrett 330gr. Hammerheads as there were grizzlies but depending on where you are you may not need that heavy of artillery. There are lighter short barrel .44 Mags say in the S&W line and you can still get a lot of defense with Randy Garrett 310gr Hammerheads as that load was designed to be used out of Smiths with their shorter cylinders. Even the 2.5 in .44 Mags are ok in a gunfight with a bear as a last ditch defense if your Bear Spray fails which should always come first. Get the biggest Counter Assault canister you can and have it on your belt handy.

I never had a bear problem but close friends did. Never underestimate any bear especially black bears as one killed a friend of mine in Colorado.

The most danger you could encounter going in or going out would be to
accidentally get between Mama bear and cubs. It helps to make some
noise as you move along through the brush. I have encountered quite
a few black bear in the woods, and they almost always disappear quickly.
I said almost, not always.

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In Omnia Paratus

And here I was going to suggest a fish market-----a little too tame maybe----huh?

Have you considered a pair of companions----one for each side of the stream---armed with autoloading 12 gauge shotguns---loaded with slugs?

Ralph Tremaine

There was an old fisherman in Ontario Canada, who apparently " fished" some pond with dynamite. I was never there and this was supposed to have taken place in late 1970's. I stick to a 357/44 special depending on my mood. Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

I used to do a lot of fly fishing on WA rivers and it's dangerous. Once I went down in the current and took a ride downstream about 300'. Fortunately I had the stocking foot chest waders with inflatable top. Another time a log almost took me out. Came downstream pretty fast but I saw it in time and got away from it with seconds to spare. After that I moved to fishing the smaller streams in the mountains. There were some nice 5-10 lb steelhead in the rivers though if you were brave.

Never carried a revolver fishing but did while hunting grouse in cougar country. That was a 2" model 19 in a shoulder holster. Never saw a cougar and glad I didn't. I'm pretty sure they saw me though.

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That's just somebody talkin.

FWIW, my woods, fishing guns are an assortment of 44 mag and 45 Colt Mountain Guns and a Glock 29. Just about anything will work. Pick what makes you happy.

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213th FBINA

but not catch and eat

The model 329 and a chesty puller holster were made for your situation. You can even have some snake shot in the first chamber which may be needed more then bear medicine.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

I think I head about that guy. The local game warden decided he would accompany the guy on his next "fishing trip" to try to catch him dynamiting fish. Well, the guy brought his small "tackle box" with him and after finding the spot he wanted to "fish" he opened his "tackle box" and fiddled around inside it for a little bit then came out with a lit stick of dynamite. The Game Warden was SHOCKED that this man would do such a thing in front of him and began to lecture him. The old guy just tossed the warden the lit stick of dynamite and said "you want to talk or fish?"

For the first time I have finally read what Taurus products are intended for. Always wondered why on earth people buy them - and now I know.

Well...let me be clear, I took in trade with a bunch of other items. I don't think I would have intentionally gone out and bought it. With that being said, it has been fine so far, but it is the firearm with the least amount of sentimental value.

Bought a Taurus revolver once and then I discovered S&W. Need I say more?

This is good reading and may help you in your decision making.
Does Bear Spray Work? | Outside Online

I have owned S&W 629 Mountain Gun. It is a sort of light weight carry for a potent round.

Bear Spray Works; just watch your distance (don't spray too soon) make sure the bear is within range and WATCH wind direction so you don't get it back in your face.

I thought Taurus revolvers were just like S&W revolvers without the internal locks which made them a little less expensive.

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That's just somebody talkin.

The Taurus I own is my only revolver with an internal lock, the fifteen Smith revolvers I own are all pre-lock.

I’ve only had one up close and personal with a big male black bear and I had a .44 629 in my right hand and I did not feel undergunned. My female neighbor was beating him with a rake to get him to let go of her dead goat.

I’ve had 2 run ins with packs of Eastern Coyotes and both times I wished I had more than 10 rounds in my Glock 20.

Riot shotguns with slugs are pretty common, according to friends from Valdez.

The Kani Chest rig works out really well. This is what it looks like with all my other gear on board.

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A .357 Magnum should kill a trout quite easily

I don't know your states gun laws but I fished trout in Wyoming. My revolver was a Ruger Redhawk 5.5" 44 Magnum loaded with Randy Garrett 330gr. Hammerheads but Buffalo Bore heavy for caliber hard flat nose cast bullets are great also. Other bullets will work for wolves and cougar but for bear you want something that will penetrate heavy muscle and bone. You might consider a good quality chest holster to kept it high and dry in easy reach. Hope this helps. At least you don't have to worry about grizzly.

Go figure....a waterproof holster...

Seahorse P17 Waterproof Gun Holster

^^Looks like luggage. Buy Yeah, who would have thunk it?

Trout Revolver